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India kicked off their ODI World Cup 2023 campaign with a bang by winning against Australia at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday (October 8). Although the Men in Blue emerged victorious in the contest, the match had its share of ups and downs, as India suffered a terrible top-order collapse during their batting that raised many eyebrows.
The first wicket that fell for the host team while chasing the target set by the Aussie team was of young Indian opener Ishan Kishan, who departed for a golden duck. It is worth mentioning that Ishan had replaced promising batter Shubman Gill in India’s playing XI against Australia after the latter failed to recover from dengue fever. Nevertheless, the Jharkhand-born batter couldn’t make the most of the opportunity, and fans were really upset with him.
Apart from fans, Pakistan’s legendary pacer Shoaib Akhtar also didn’t hold back when it came to offering some crucial advice to the talented Indian batter after his flop show.
The drama during the India versus Australia clash
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Australia set a target of 200 runs for India. The Indian bowlers did a commendable job, limiting Australia to a modest total of 199 runs. Notable performances for the five-times champion came from David Warner (41) and Steve Smith (46). Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja emerged as the standout bowler for India, claiming three crucial wickets for just 28 runs. Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav also chipped in with two wickets each.
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However, the real drama unfolded during India’s innings when the top order, including Ishan, Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer, crumbled early on, with none of them managing to open their account. This disastrous start raised concerns among Indian fans, but the experienced duo of Virat Kohli (85) and KL Rahul (97) ensured that India crossed the finish line with 8.4 overs to spare.
Shoaib Akhtar’s candid advice to Ishan Kishan
Despite Virat and Rahul steering the team out of danger and guiding India to victory, Ishan’s early dismissal for a golden duck in a crucial World Cup encounter led to huge criticism from fans and experts alike. Many questioned his shot selection and ability to handle pressure at such a prestigious tournament.
In the aftermath of India’s victory, Pakistan’s veteran cricketer Akhtar offered some blunt advice to Ishan while addressing Indi’s win on his official YouTube channel. Akhtar emphasized the need for patience and playing according to the situation. He acknowledged the exuberance and aggression of youth but stressed that Ishan should focus on building an innings rather than trying to make a quick impact.
“Ishan Kishan should be patient and needs to play according to the situation. I know there is aggression and exuberance of youth, and he wants to stamp his authority and he wants to say that ‘I’ve arrived on the scene.’ But he needs to show patience,” Akhtar remarked.
